Cylinder retention means

ABSTRACT

A mortise type lock assembly has a case with opposite flat side walls and an end wall defining a chamber. A cylinder assembly has a threaded engagement with respect to one of the opposite side walls. The cylinder assembly has a keyway in a rotatable plug and normally has a mechanism for converting key rotation into, for example, a latch bolt unlocking movement, the mechanism for latch bolt movement being omitted as outside the scope of the invention. A flanged ring anchored in each wall has an internal threaded opening which receives the respective cylinder assembly. Serving the cylinder assembly is a special screw, threaded at one end and unthreaded at the other end. There are two spaced brackets, one with a threaded hole and one with a clear hole, center lines of the holes being offset from each other so that each screw, when driven into a slot in the cylinder assembly to releasably lock it in position, is biased causing the threads of the screw to lock in position so that the parts will not work loose during use.

te States Sanders CYLINDER RETENTION MEANS [75] Inventor: Vernard W. Sanders, Los Angeles,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Norris Industries, Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

22 Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 223,991

- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,503,234 3/1970 Schultz.'. 70/451 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Vernon D. Beehler et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A mortise type lock assembly has a case with opposite flat side walls and an end wall defining a chamber. A cylinder assembly has a threaded engagement with respect to one of the opposite side walls. The cylinder as.- sembly has a keyway in a rotatable plug and normally has a mechanism for converting key rotation into, for example, a latch bolt unlocking movement, the mechanism for latch bolt movement being omitted as outside the scope of the invention. A flanged ring anchored in each wall has an internal threaded opening which receives the respective cylinder assembly. Serving the cylinder assembly is .a special screw, threaded at one end and unthreaded at the other end. There are two spaced brackets, one with a threaded hole and one with v a clear hole, center lines of the holes being offset from 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 CYLINDER RETENTION MEANS The present invention relates to an improved means of providing retention for the threaded cylinder assemblies normally associated with mortise type locks.

Although many such devices have been conceived and are in use, the structure herein disclosed provides a difierent solution to this requirement, particularly in conjunction with a lock case structure created mainly from stamped sheet metal and screw machine components as opposed to the more conventional cast iron lock cases. Such cast iron cases can be easily provided with configurations that will accomplish the aforementioned requirement of cylinder assembly retention but the cost of producing and machining these castings is relatively expensive by present day standards. The structure herein disclosed is directed to a lower cost product utilizing low-cost, high production stamped and turned components. In addition, the structure of the present invention provides increased strength and at the same time eliminates the possibility of fracture that can occur in lock cases made from cast iron.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved cylinder assembly retention for mortise type locks'which utilizes low-cost components and which provides increased strength and a greater degree of security. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved screw retention which makes use of a screw-like element for retaining the cylinder assembly which does not require additional clamping elements.

Further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved line of clamping force within intermembering thread engagement areas between the cylinder assembly and the mortise lock whereby to make adequate tightening of the locking screw easy but which at the same time avoids the prospect of distortion of the parts.

Also included among the objects of the invention" is to provide a novel means of thread locking to prevent loosening of the retaining screw.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the objects are attained, as hereinafter described, pointed; out in the appended claims, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a door with a mortise type lock mounted therein.

FIG. 2 is a partially explodedperspective view of the mortise type lock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is across-sectionalview taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken respectively on the lines 5--5: and 6-6.of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view ofone of the flanged and threaded rings used in the wall of the case.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view of the thread locking means.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown in FIG. 1. a door 10 with a mortise type lock 11 mounted therein and having a face plate 12 that is recessed flush with a door edge 13. Through an opening 14 in the face plate l2 projects a latch bolt l5for cooperative engagement within an opening of a strike plate (not shown) for holding the door 10 in a closed or latched condition. The latch bolt 15 is normally operated by means of some device such as the door knob 16 which is operatively coupled to the latch bolt 15 by some conventional form of retracting mechanism (not shown) housed within the mortise lock.

For obtaining security against unauthorized opening of the door 10', means is provided to render the door knob 16 in a locked condition, at which time some additional means must be employed to by-pass or release the locked condition. A n'ormally employed agency for this purpose is .a key operated cylinder assembly 17. The cylinder assembly 17 can also be an agency for locking the device.

Cylinder assemblies normally associated with mortise type locks are of the type commonly referred to as threaded cylinders, for the reason that the outer periphery of the cylinder body is formed with an external threaded portion 18 to provide a threaded coupling with the mortise lock.

The cylinder assembly 17 is attached to the mortise lock 11 through an opening 19 in the face of the door 10, the-mortise lock having been previously installed in a mortised pocket 20 in the door edge 13. To attain proper spacing and to conceal the opening through which the cylinder assembly 17 has been attached, there is provided a trim collar 21. The cylinder assertibly 17 is normally of the pin tumbler type provided with a cylinder plug 22 containing a ke'yway 23 whereby the plug 22 can be rotated by means of a correct key to operate an appropriate conventional mechanism within the r'nortis'e lock. Either the lock or the latch bolt or both may be locked or unlocked by operation of the mechanism.

The mortise lock is housed in a case consisting of opposite flat side walls and 31 a top wall 32, a rear wall 33 and a front wall 34 held in place by screws 32' extending through the top wall 32 to form a box-like structure having a chamber 35 for various mechanism components. To retain the mortise lock 11 in the door 10, the front wall 34 is provided with two countersunk holes 34' for receiving screws (not shown). The side walls 30 and 31 have respective openings 37, 37 in which flanged rings 38, 38' are anchored as, for example, by use of rivets 39. Internally threaded openings 40, 40 are adapted to receive the external threaded portion 18 of the cylinder assembly '17.

When the cylinder assembly 17 has been attached to the mortise lock 11 by threaded engagement, some means must be employed to provide security against its removal by unthreading and the gaining of access to surreptitiously unlock the mechanism within the case. To provide this necessary security, threaded cylinder assemblies normally contain a pair of locking grooves and 45' located on the horizontal centerline of the cylinder body and extending longitudinally along the cylinder body. By the employment of some agency that can be advanced into one of the locking grooves 45 or 45 of the cylinder assembly 17, after it has been threaded into the mortise lock case, rotation is prevented and, in addition, the cylinder assembly 17 is properly aligned in the case.

In the present structure, the agency employed con- -sists of especially configured retaining screws 42, 42"

42' is provided by the apertures 43, 43 in the front wall 34. As shown in FIG. 2, such access is available only when the face plate 12 has been removed which is necessary for installation of the mortise lock in the door 10. When the face plate 12 is applied to the front wall 34 and fastened by the screws 48 and 48', the apertures 43, 43' providing access to the screw heads 46, 46"are concealed, a circumstance which adds to the total security of the lock when installed.

The arrangement of parts within the mortise lock which position and retain the cylinder assemblies 17 and the retaining screws 42, 42' in assembled relationship is best viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cylinder assembly 17 is shown in its position of threaded engagement within the threaded aperture 40 and secured against rotation by the retaining screw 42 being advanced into the locking groove 45. The body of the retaining screw 42 has a threaded portion 50 adjacent the head 46 and an unthreaded portion 51 for the remainder of the length, the unthreaded length terminating with a conical point 52. The retaining screw is supported and guided by a pair of brackets 53 and 54, the bracket 53 containing a threaded aperture 55 for threaded engagement of the threaded portion 50 of the retaining screw 42, and the bracket 54 containing a cutout 56 for guiding the unthreaded portion 51 of the retaining screw 42.

As will be noted in FIG. 4, the relative positions of the threaded aperture 55 and the cutout 56 are such that their center lines are offset from each other and cause the retaining screw 42 to be biased to an angular position relative to the horizontal centerline of the mortise lock. This angular position thus creates a line of force through the central axis of the retaining screw 42 that is transferred approximately the midpoint of the area of engagement between the external thread 18 of the cylinder body and the internal threaded aperture 40 at a location diametrically opposite the point of contact of the conical point 52.

For ease of assembly of the retaining screw 42 within the brackets 53 and 54 and to establish the angular bias prior to engagement of the threaded portion 50 with the threaded aperture 55, the unthreaded portion 51 is created with a length somewhat greater than the span between the brackets 53 and 54, and the diameter of the unthreaded portion 51 is of a size sufficiently small to pass through the threaded aperture 55..

As will be further noted in FIGS. 3 and 4, and shown separately in FIG. 7, the threaded aperture 40 is within a flanged ring 38 that is retained in the wall 30 of the case 20 by rivets 39 passing through the holes 57 and 57, and similarly positioned holes in the case. The flanged ring also contains a slot 60 on its horizontal centerline providing clearance for the retaining screw 42.

Also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the inner end of the cylinder assembly 17 which has a cam 61 attached to the end of the plug 22 by the screws 62 and 62. The cam 61 rotates with the plug 22 when operated by the proper key in the keyway 23 to actuate some portion of the mechanism (not shown) within the mortise lock.

As is often the case in installing mortise type locks, the hand of the doorvrequires that the cylinder assembly 17 be attached to the face of the door opposite from that thus far illustrated. Shown in FIG. 4, by use of phantom lines, is the alternate position of the cylinder assembly 17.

To provide this capability, the side wall 31 also contains the threaded aperture 40' which as previously described is again provided with the flanged ring 38' similarly retained by rivets in aligned holes through the flanged ring and the side wall 31. The second retaining screw 42' also having a head 46' accessible through the aperture 43' of the front plate 34 is provided for retaining the cylinder assembly in this alternate position. The second retaining screw 42 also has a threaded portion 50', an unthreaded portion 51 and a conical point 52. The retaining screw 42 is similarly supported and guided by the brackets 53 and 54 wherein the bracket 53 has a second threaded aperture 55' and the bracket 54 has a second cutout 56 which causes the retaining screw 42' to be positioned in an angular condition as previously disclosed for the retaining screw 42.

In addition to the capability of being able to apply the cylinder assembly 17 to either side of the mortise lock, there are some functions of mortise type locks which require that two cylinder assemblies be employed, one attached to each side of the case.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 are best shown the means by which the brackets 53-and 54 are retained within the mortise lock. The bracket 53 which contains the threaded apertures 55 and 55' for engagement of the threaded portions 50, 50 respectively of the retaining screws 42 and 42' is formed in an L shape to provide stiffness and is retained by the tab 63 staked within opening 64 of the wall 30. The force generated as a result of tightening the retaining screws 42 or 42' is prevented from distorting the bracket 53 towards the front wall 34 by means of an overlying stop lug 67 that is formed from the side wall 31. The side wall 31 is restricted from moving by interlocking means and is fastened by screws and mounting posts 69.

The bracket 54 having the guiding cutouts 56 and 56' through which the unthreaded portions 51, 51' respectively of the retaining screws 42 and 42' are positioned is retained in the case by a tab 65 intermembering a slot 65' and a tab 66 staked within an opening 66' of the side wall 30.

The novel thread locking means set forth is best viewed in FIG. 8 which illustrates the threaded portion 50 of the retaining screw 42 within the threaded aperture 55 of the bracket 53. The internal thread in the aperture 55 is formed with its axis 70 perpendicular to the bracket 53 and of a diameter sufficient to allow the retaining screw 42 to assume an angular position of the axis 70. The diametrical difierence, however, is such that when the retaining screw 42 has been biased to the axis 71, diametrically opposed flanks 72 and 72 of the threaded portion 50 are slightly distorted by contact against mating flanks 73 and 73 of the threaded aperture 55 resulting in a thread locking condition. The thread locking achieved is sufficient to prevent loosening from vibration or normal usage of the mortise lock, yet will not resist rotation from a screw driver when needed for manipulation of the retaining screws 42 and 42.

While the invention has been shown and described in a practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims embracing all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock assembly including a case having opposite side walls and an end wall intermediate said side walls, at least one of said side walls having an internally threaded aperture therein for reception of an externally threaded housing, a plurality of brackets in said case spaced from each other, a first of said brackets being more nearly adjacent the threaded aperture and a second of said brackets being more nearly adjacent the end wall, an opening through said first bracket and an internally threaded opening through said second bracket, said openings being offset from each other in an axial direction, and a retaining screw with a normally straight longitudinal axis, said screw being engageable in said openings, said screw having a threaded section in engagement with said threaded opening and an unthreaded section in engagement with the other opening, the longitudinal axis of said screw being deflected out of a straight position when said screw is in engagement with the respective openings whereby there is a frictional binding engagement between the opening for releasably locking said screw in place.

2. A lock assembly asin claim 1 wherein a line traversing the center line of said retaining screw intersects threads respectively of said screw and said threaded the threads on opposite sides of said threaded aperture.

3. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein said housing has a groove in the exterior adapted to be aligned with said screw and receptive of the adjacent end of said screw for locking said housing in position.

4. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is an internally and externally threaded flanged ring intermediate the externally threaded housing and the internally threaded aperture of the case receptive of said housing, there being an opening in the ring adapted to align with said screw.

5. A lock assembly as in claim 4 wherein the threads of said ring on opposite sides thereof lie within an extension of the axial center line of said screw.

6. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein there are two threaded apertures on respective opposite sides of said case and a retaining screw operably associated with each of said apertures.

7. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein the retaining screw is biased at an angle with respect to the plane of the adjacent side of said case and in a direction toward said externally threaded housing.

i t i 

1. In a lock assembly including a case having opposite side walls and an end wall intermediate said side walls, at least one of said side walls having an internally threaded aperture therein for reception of an externally threaded housing, a plurality of brackets in said case spaced from each other, a first of said brackets being more nearly adjacent the threaded aperture and a second of said brackets being more nearly adjacent the end wall, an opening through said first bracket and an internally threaded opening through said second bracket, said openings being offset from each other in an axial direction, and a retaining screw with a normally straight longitudinal axis, said screw being engageable in said openings, said screw having a threaDed section in engagement with said threaded opening and an unthreaded section in engagement with the other opening, the longitudinal axis of said screw being deflected out of a straight position when said screw is in engagement with the respective openings whereby there is a frictional binding engagement between the threads respectively of said screw and said threaded opening for releasably locking said screw in place.
 2. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein a line traversing the center line of said retaining screw intersects the threads on opposite sides of said threaded aperture.
 3. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein said housing has a groove in the exterior adapted to be aligned with said screw and receptive of the adjacent end of said screw for locking said housing in position.
 4. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is an internally and externally threaded flanged ring intermediate the externally threaded housing and the internally threaded aperture of the case receptive of said housing, there being an opening in the ring adapted to align with said screw.
 5. A lock assembly as in claim 4 wherein the threads of said ring on opposite sides thereof lie within an extension of the axial center line of said screw.
 6. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein there are two threaded apertures on respective opposite sides of said case and a retaining screw operably associated with each of said apertures.
 7. A lock assembly as in claim 1 wherein the retaining screw is biased at an angle with respect to the plane of the adjacent side of said case and in a direction toward said externally threaded housing. 